It is never a dull moment in Maltese politics, and no matter how deep in the silly season we get, we keep getting one more unbelievable piece of news than the previous one.

The extended hours of power outage spread across Malta and Gozo, and the contaminated waters that rendered some of our beaches unfit for swimming at the height of summer were not enough. This week we had the mother of unbelievable news which made everyone wonder whether we were still living in a European country in 2024.

After many weeks of titubation, and ridicule to his own institution, Edward Scicluna, former Minister of Finance and Governor of the Central Bank has finally decided to take a step aside, in light of his pending criminal charges in connection with the Vitals/Stewart scandal.

Albeit, Professor Scicluna did not resign from his post, leading one of the most sensitive institutions in the country – no, that would have been the right thing to do, two months ago! He decided to merely suspend himself from his position, and low and behold, do so while retaining his full remuneration package of €138,000 per annum!

These are moments when reality eclipses the absurd, and things start to seem surreal.

Let us not forget that Edward Scicluna raised the salary of the Governor of the Central Bank himself, knowing full well that he would be landing the role.

While families are suffering untold hardships not knowing whether they will have a functioning electrical supply tonight; while businesses are having to incur extra expenses to think of a Plan B and Plan C to function properly; while our streets are becoming lined with industry-grade generators in order for people to get on with their lives, Professor Scicluna has decided to stay home for the remainder of his contract while still receiving more than €11,000 a month, for absolutely nothing.

We are told that the deal had been offered to him by three senior Government Ministers, who were tasked by the Prime Minister to convince him to step aside. A deal. As is customary to be offered during a game-show, or worse on a cheap shopping channel.

The problem is that this deal is being offered at our expense, being generous with our tax payer euros, for the benefit of the Labour government.

For too long have Labour administrations had to contend with rifts and cracks within the party in the most innovative of ways. Golden handshakes, musical chairs and an array of other creative arrangements have always been a central characteristic of Labour administrations, but this has reached a new height.

When all this happens within the context of a power grid which is folding under the demand of the country, the context of our roads which are now jamming throughout the year including summer which till recently used to be the season of respite, the context of  a shrinking middle-class with more people finding it hard to maintain their lifestyle – it is all the more poignant.

We have known that Labour governments wouldn’t stop at much to reach their egoistical goals. This however must be a new low.

 

Hon Dr Darren Carabott is the Opposition’s Shadow Minister for Home Affairs, Security and Reforms, and President of the Public Accounts Committee.